Excavating machine



F. c. MARSHALL ExcAvATING kAcHINE Filed Aug.v 30. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 5, 1927.

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April I 5 1927.

` 1,623,194 F. C., MARSHALL EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheetz April 5,1921 1,623,194

F. C. MARSHALL EXCAVTI NG NACHI NE Filed Aug. 30. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IUI CAS

Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

FRANCIS c. MARSHALLQO'F Pi-nim rsY,"niIsooNs'IN.

Application fi'ierlrugust 3o, I1921i. "Seriar "No5 496,880.

Myfinifcntion relates" to improvements in excavating machines and is particularly' dirooted' to that class of machines Which"ar`e designed primarily for use in tunnelingLA and mining` \vork"l1aving restricted headroom, although its applicatin'is not limited to these fields.

Heretofore, 'the loading of coal` and the like in mines has generally' been done by manual labor, the conditions of mines were thought 'to be such as to prevent the piactieal' use of loading machines therein, owing tothe low "ceilings, narrow' passages and sn'ia'll rooms in which the Work is. done.

'lherefo're, it is the object'of my invention to provide a machine of the character ldescribed Which will lreadily transfer `material such as coal, ore or other like Asubstances i from one point`w1th1n the mine to anotherv point7 and itis e'sptecidlly'de'sign'ed for loading coal from the floor of a"inine onto 'a mine car. l

A further object' of 4myy inventionv is to provide a vmachine yof the class described having` a dipper that-'is moved in its several operating positions by motive elnnents which are' operated by huid, 'preferably air, inderL pressure.

Another object of my invention is the coi'nbination of a digging inot'ive'eleinentand af positioning' motive element, the digging element being' soarrttnged that itl'is freely movable upon the shovel earriage and'adapted toV eifectfla digging 'stroke 'to the clipper' and at the same time li'ft` it clear'of the 4mass of material. The positining element' functioning to place the dipper'in its"` correct position for digging` and dumping the contents'of the dipper and for advancing the diggingelement into the mass of material as the saine diminishes. l

Another object of my invention is to 'provide novel arrangement of valves for controlling the admissiontof iiuid under vpressure tothe. several 1notive'eleinents, said valves being primarily vdesigned for manual ops-nation but their structure being such that they may be automatically operated if"'so desired. l

.Vhile I haveillustrated inthe `accompanying drawings` a' specific forml of v`e'nstruction it` Will vbe readily `understood that other elements of design may be included Vin the construction :Without'd'eparting from' the essentials of the invention. Y 4

In the accompanying dravvin-gswhich 'illustrate a simple embdd'imrent ofmy invenat the completion of the `diggingand'dumping operations.

' l4`figure2'shows the machine as positioned ready for the' diggingstroke.

'Figure 3 isa to'p plan'vieW of the machine: showing thedigging motive' element, in its* extended position.

Figure 4 is a. longitudinal vertical sec# tional' View taken through the' digging element as shown in Figure 3.

"FigureY 5 is'a" sectidn on the linee-5 of Figure 3. r

Figure 6 isa section on the line 6-`6 of Figure.

AlFigure 7 isa sectional'view of the4 Control`valve for the 'several imotive elements.

"Referring tothe drawings in detail, the` `inuinera'l 1 designates a truck having vthe Wheels 2 ywhich are spaced apart equivalent to that'of'the 'usual narrow standard gauge track which is used in mines or the like, the truck l havinginounted thereupon the loading meehanisin which it conveys from place' to place'as occasio'n may demand,and to which' my invention relates.

The loading mechanism proper'coinprises a'y base 3 upon which the various operating elements' of the dipper are' mounted, said hase' being arranged 'upion the' truck in' such amanner" that the same may he readily swung from one side' to another of the same7 siniilar to that of a turntable.

Thebase" is'formed preferably from a castingfand has inade' integral therewith `and extending therefrom theforwardly and rear- Wardly` projecting arms fand 5, the same having 'formed integral' therewith and on their top facestthe flanged tracls"6wliich extend 'across the `b'a'se 3, the purpose of Which willv be fullyapparent as the descripnon proceeds. Y

Referring to Figure 6 it will he noted that Cil C. n-l

the end portions of the arms are braced by the transversely extending web 7 made integral with the arms and slightly curved downwardly, the purpose of which will be apparent.

The adjacent end portions of the arms 5 have secured thereto, by suitable bolts or rivets, on their outer sides the vertically disposed members 8, the intermediate portion of each being bowed outwardly, as indicated at 9, while the arms L1 have secured to their outer sides and adjacent their ends, in a similar manner, the vertically arranged members 10. It will be noted that these latter members are not bowed outwardly in their intermediate portions, as the members 8, but remain entirely in a vertical plane, the purpose of which will be more fully disclosed later on.

The upper ends of the members 8 have secured thereto the upwardly inclined side bars 11 made of. suitable channel iron and secured to the members 8 in a manner as that disclosed in Figure 6. Abutting the upper ends of the side bars 11 are similar bars 12 arranged in a horizontal plane and projecting somewhat in advance of the arms 1, while their adjacent intermediate portions rest upon the upper ends of the vertically disposed members and are secured thereto by bolts or the like.

The members 10, 11 and 12 have bolted on their common sides the side walls 13 which are cut from sheet material and having portions cut therefrom to reduce the weight of the same. l

The lowe:` edges of the side walls 13 have secured thereto in a horizontal plane the flanged tracks 14, one end portion of each being .secured to the vertical members 10, and the entire track being so positioned as to be over the correspondingly formed treks 6 arranged upon the arms 4 and 5, and the base 3, thus forming therebetween a space, the purpose of which is to receive rollers which will be fully described later on.

In order that sulicient rigidity may be added to the structure just described, the members 11 and 12 have secured thereto on the sides having thereon the side walls 13, channel bars similar to the main bars themselves, thus presenting` in cross-section I beams having in their intermediate portions the downwardly projecting walls 13.

The loregoing is merely a brief description of the structure of the carriage upon which the various operating elements and parts of the shoveling machine are mounted, the latter l will now proceed to describe.

The inclined side bars 11 have secured to their top faces, and adjacent their intermediate portions, transversely aligned bearing blocks 14 which are adapted to have journalled therein the ends of a cross beam l5, the `intrfrmed.iate portion of whih has niountcd thereon an air cylinder 16, which l shall hereinafter refer to as the main or positioning cylinder or motive element. rlhe cylinder 16 has slidably arranged therein a reciprocating piston and its rod 17, the

16 at either end, through the pipes 20, one

exhausting air to the control valve and the other permitting live air to enter from the supply through the control valve. ln order that the shaft 18 may be held in its true relation with respect to the piston rod 17, and to give sutiicient rigidity to the connection, l have provided a brace 21, the same having intermediate spaced bearings 23 and end bearings 24 through which the shaft 18 passes. The intermediate bearings being adapted to receive therebetween the head of the piston rod 17, while the end bearings 24, tend to hold the rollers 19 in their proper spaced relation in order to ride upon the top face of the bars 12.

Extending transversely of the arms 5, and freely movable thereon, is an axle 25 the adjacent end portions of which have loosely mounted thereon and held in spaced relation to each other by the collars 26, rollers 27 which lie between the tracks 6 and 111. The central portion of the axle 25 is somewhat enlarged and provided with an opening adapted to receive therein the end of a cylinder 28, the adjacent end of which is closed by the removable head 29 the same being threaded thereon and locked or bolted to the aXle 25.

rl`he structure thus described is a portion of the digging element and the saine vfurther comprises a second cylinder 30 which is adapted to reciprocate within the cylinder 28 and serve as a piston therein, it will be noted that the cylinder 30 is provided with a head 31 through which the Atiuid passes and bears upon the head 32 of the piston 33, the same being formed ol' a tube and having its end closed by a removable head 311-. By referring to Figure l, it will be noted that both the cylinders 28 and il() have their ends, adjacent the sliding elsments, closed by flanged ring 35 the saine beingr threaded thereon and compressing between its flange and the cylinder edge suitable packing rings or the like, each ring $3.3 having passing therethrough and into the interior of each cylinder the pipes 86 and 37 which are adapted to discharge fluid behind the movable cylinder and piston and force the same forwardly. 'i

Slt)

` the diggingcylinder or motive' element is.

Extending .transversely of thebase 3, fand also `freely movable on the tracks, is -a second axle 38 -the intermediate portionof` which is bowed upwardly suti'cientto receive thereunder the end of thelpiston 33, thefremovable head ofv which is provided with' oppositely disposed andl outwardly extending i lugs 391I by which #the pistonis securely braced and held to the axlei38lby means of the. brace rods `40.

From theforegoing, it willi be noted that disclosed in FigurelG, the other endsyof,

which are 4provided;y with bearings 43 in which a horizont-ally disposed shaftf44 is journal'led, the endportions-of whichprotrude through the bearings 43l and have mounted thereon .the ends of the dippercarryingarms45, the latter being made .integral with the dipperV 46.

Thewend:portions,l of the axle` 38 have mounted thereon in a similar manner to that of the 4axle 25 and 'held .by the collars 46, the curved arms. 47, theother ends `of which-are bifurcated and pivotallysecured to the arms 45, adjacent their connection with. the, dippe146.

rllie-.dipper 46', as disclosed in the drawings,\comprises sidev walls having made integral.therewith the arms 45, and the usual:

dipper teeth arranged onone wall, the remaimng opened bottom .and side of the dipper is closed by a member 48'hingedly connected to the sidewallsas at 48: Ingorder that the closure 48 may be properly operated, I have provided/1a` small lcylinder 49,1

mounted ,upon the shaft 44 and :having therein a piston and its rod, the latter being connected to ,the i closure. provided with `the usualinlet pipes and it will bei-noted that. when fluid isyadmitted therein at either end t-he .movement of the piston `will causea corresponding movement of the closure, resulting in `the open.- ine'and closing of the dipper.v

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent, brieiiy, .that when fluid is ad-y mittedin the rear end vof the cylinder` 16, its piston 17 advances and carries withit thefarms.- 142,' thel -lower ends of which move the diggin-g cylinder-the same distance travelled by the piston uponwthe base/,3. Vhen The cylinder 49 is the forward'movementiiof thepistony 17 is stopped, fluid is admittedinto the rear end -of ther cylinder-28: through'ithe pipev 52-and as theaXle 25: remainsastationary, the axle 38. moves away .from thesame, thus separatingr the twoy axles` and imparting i a, digging stroke to the dipper: and-atitheisame time giviitig theidipper an upper swinging move-f, men

In order thatair may beadmittedy behind the cylinder and piston arranged withinzthen cylinder l28, I have, provided a rigid `but .yet

flexible connection betweenthe cylinders 28' and 30, whereby the twol axles maybe` drawn together.` This. connectioni comprises the pipes 36 and 37, previously referred to, the same being provided. zwitlr oscillating joints or -elbows at their outerends to.` whichthe pipes `50 :are` connected, the ends of which i are connected to a .common oscillating -joint or elbow I51.` As' shown inA the drawings, this arrangement of pipes and jointsis positioned in .a Ivertical..plana-but in .the actual structure zit:"is-desired to position the same beneaththe cylinders in a horizontal plane, incorder that theymight not interfere with the working of the cylinders.

In :order thattheaXlesQ and 38 may be separated by motive power, I have provided the vpipe 52 throughiwhich yfluid is admitted intov theuendof thecylinder 28, where it passes: through the head2 31 and bears upon the pistonfheadl 32,y thus movingthe axles away` from eaclr other. I/ilhen desired to draw the axles together, `fluid is admittedinto thei'cylinder28.1through: the pipe 52" leadinginto-the cylinder behind the head 31 and through .thering 35. The'pipe 52 is connectedftox the cylinder 28 `in a y`manner similarvto thatLo-thepipe 36 disclosed in.l

Fig. 4.v The` fluid bears upon said head and moves the cylinder 30 @inward of Ithe `main cylinder, after which Vthe fluid passes throughrthe iexible connections() and 51` to the pipe`37v'hi-clr directsiitbehind the head1 32,'whe`reby the piston 33 `is drawn inward andthe ytwo aXles'caused to` approach eachother, or more.'specicall`y, causes the.. cylinder 30 `and, the pistoni-331m move inwardlyy ofthe mainicylinder 28, thereby moving axle 38 toward aX-leil, thus causing the dipper to assume a position such as that shown in Figure 2.

Each ofthe various cylinders or motive elements: used in the complete operation of the dipper are controlled by an independent control valve, preferably manually operated, the same beingfarranged upo-nthe base 3 lil() ofthemachine, orat any convenient-place desired, andconnectedto certain cylinders by rigidpiping and others by iexible. In practice, I' have found that, flexible piping may be employed-for the main cylinder 16 and the dipper` closing cylinder. 49, but due to=y theafact -that-.the diggingicylinderg is` required to make so many movements during the operation of the machine it is though advisable to provide rigid piping leading to the same, this I have previously described, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 it will be noted that at various points throughout the run of the pipe I have provided swinging or oscillating joints whereby the piping may be swung back and forth upon itself as the movement of the digging cylinder takes place.

As disclosed in Figure 7, I have illustrated a simple form of valve by which I may direct the liow of fluid to either end oi the cylinder, one valve being adapted for each cylinder.

The valve proper comprises a casing having therein a central longitudinal bore 54 and the annular channels 55, 56 and 57 while each end of the casing is closed by an elbow 5S from which leads a pipe 59 to a surge tank. The channels 55 and 57 have each in communication therewith the pipes and 61, respectively, which lead to the ends of the cylinder which the valve is adapted to control. lIhe intermediate channel 56 has in communication therewith the pipe 62 which leads from the source of supply for the luid.

lIhc bore 54 has l'itted therein a bearing sleeve 63 which is provided with a series ot elongated slots 6ft lying within the connues of each channel. Slidable through one of the elbows 58 is a piston rod 65 the same having made integral therewith the spacedr heads 66 and 67, the dist-ance between each being equivalent to that between the adjacent edges of the channels 55 and'57. Thus -it will be seen that when the piston rod is moved in either direction, particularly in such a direction that the heads will uncover the slots lying within the contines of the channels 55 and 57 and the head 66 will cut oil communication between the channel and the supply pipe 62 and permit the Huid from the cylinder to pass to the surge tank through the channel 55, slots 64, elbow 58 and into the pipe 59, while the head 67 cuts oit communication between the pipes 61 and 59, but opens communication between the pipes 61 and 62, the latter leading from the supply.

rlhe operation: In the use ol the machine the truck mechanism is lirst brought into operation to cause the machine to be brought in Contact with the material to be handled. Assuming that the dipper is in a position similar to that illustrated in Figure 2, the operator then moves the control valve to such a position as will admit the fluid into cylinder 16 and cause the piston 17 to move forward, as it does, it moves with it the dipper 46 and the movable digging cylinder, and as the dipper moves forward it will be moved parallel with the floor, thus effeeting a scraping and gathering action. It. in this movement forward the dipper strikes an obstruction on the lioor, by reason of thel pivotal mounting oit the cylinder 16, the same will be caused to move upward and the dipper will ride over the obstruction. liVhen t-he limit of the desired it'orward movement has been reached, the operator cuts oil' the supply of tluid from the cylinder 16 and operates the valve controlling the fluid supply to the digging cylinder and when fluid is admitted into the same the axles are caused to separate, in a manner previously described, 'thus giving an upward swinging motion to the dipper through the mass ot material. Villien the dipper is elevated a suiticient height for dumping, the base is swung upon the truck 1 so as to position the dipper above the mine car, after which the valve controlling the itlow of fluid to cylinder eti) is operated to cause the opening of the cloeure.

After the machine and the dipper are once positioned in their correct starting pointI it is not necessary to change the position ot' the piston 17, or the pivot of swing for the dipper, until all of the material has been gathered up from that point, after which the digging cylinder is moved by the main cylinder 16 to a new position. may demand, the dipper may be moved forward in its elevated position by the cylinder 16, in order to bring the same above the mine car or any other purpose that may present itself.

In order that the dipper may be returned to its starting position, the operator merely moves the valve to such a position that the fluid will be caused to enter the cylinder in a reverse direction, thus forcing the piston backward or t'orward as the case may be.

As disclosed in Figures l and 2, it will be noted that the dipper 46 is provided with a member which projects slightly beyond the edge of the dipper wall and adapted to receive thereunder the free end of the closure i8 when the same is in a closed position.

Furthermore, it is apparent that by reason of the particular structure of the digging cylinder a greater force is exerted at the tirst half of the digging stroke than at tl e last hall` thereby giving` greater torce when the dipper is in the mass ot material and less as it clears the same and moves upwardly, thus saving power.

From the foregoing, it is thought. that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that vario-us changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrilicing any of the advantages of the invention.

If occasion Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A shoveling machine of the class described having a dipper, pairs of arms pivotally connected to said dipper, a movable motive element to which said arms are pivoted and by which the arms are separated. to cause an upward swinging movement of the dipper, and a main element for moving said dipper and motive element ina horizontal plane.

2. In a shovelingmachine, a dipper, actriating elements connected thereto, the other ends of which are connected to members movable on said machine, a motive element -for moving said members to and away vfrom each other whereby a swinging movement is imparted to said dipper, and a second motive element pivotally mounted on said carriage for imparting a horizontal movement to said dipper and said. motive element.

In a shoveling machine, a carriage, a motive element pivoted thereon and having associated therewith a reciprocating actuating element, members movable on said car-` riage, a second motive element positioned between said members for moving one away from the other, a dipper, arms connecting said dipper and movable members whereby said dipper is moved in Various positions, and one of said arms being connected to the actuating element of the iirst said motive element whereby said movable members and dipper are moved in a horizontal plane.

l LIt. A shoveling machine of the class described having a dipper, arms pivotally connected to said dipper the ends of which are journalled on axles movable on themachine, a motive element having a reciprocating actuating element connected to certain of said arms for moving` the said dipper and axles, and a second motive element adapted' to move said axles to and away from each other whereby said dipper is caused to oscillate upon said arms.

A shoveling machine of the class descrilied having a platform and atrack portion, a dipper, an extensible motive element movable upon said platform and having pivotally connected thereto dipper-carrying arms, a second motive element positioned near said track and having its movable member connected to certain of the dipper-carrying arms for positioning the dipper with respect to the work, and a third motive element having la movable actuating element connected to said dipper for imparting a certain operative movement thereto.

6. A shoveling machine of the class described having a platform, a track poi'- tion and a dipper, an extensible motive element movable upon said platform and having pivotally connected thereto dippercarrying arms, a second motive element positioned near said track and having its movable member connected to the irst said motive element through certain of the dip* per-carrying arms for positioning the dipper with respect to the work, and a third motive element having a movable element connected to said dipper for imparting a certain operative movement thereto.

'7. A shoveling machine of the class described having a platform, a track portion and a dipper, members movable upon said platform and having therebetween a motive element for moving oneI of said members with respect to the other, a pair of dipper arms pivotally connected to one of said members, a second motive element positioned ad-` jacent said track and having a movable element resting thereon, arms connecting said dipper and the last said movable element with the other of the first said movable members for positioning the dipper with respect to the work, and a third motive element having a movable element connected to said dipper for imparting certain operative movement thereto.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Green Bay, in the county of Brown and State of Wisconsin.

FRANCIS C. vMARSHALL. 

